so, i’m a newbie to this whole traveling ordeal, but if you’ve been following me on any social media i’ve been living in costa rica for coming up on three months. and there have been a few apps that i have been using that have proved themselves to be very helpful during this time i’ve been abroad.

6. whatsapp

whatsapp is probably one of the best apps to message with people in different countries. if your friends have whatsapp it pretty much works just like imessage, but of course nothing compares to the interface and pretty-ness of imessage; however, it gets the job done and it doesn’t charge the other party international fees.

whatsapp also has the capability of video chatting and phone calls. it is a very helpful app; all you need is the other people’s phone number.

5. airline app

okay, so the app is not called airline app but it depends upon what airline you’re flying with. for me i had connecting flights on different airlines so i needed multiple apps, but having the app is easier than carrying around the piece of paper that you have the possibility of losing. but will you lose your phone? nope. i’m almost guaranteeing that you’ll have your phone on you always.

both airline apps i have, united and american, keep a notification on my lockscreen telling me that my flight is coming up and when you swipe it opens to your flight ticket in the app. the apps let you know of delays and any other information about your flights.

4. uber

chances are you already have this app, but this is extremely helpful when needing to get around. here in costa rica they have taxis and buses, but taxis can be super expensive and the buses make multiple stops and you can get extremely car sick on the buses here. uber is just extremely helpful and my family and i are extremely thankful for it over here in costa rica.

3. duolingo

if you’re trying to learn a new language this app is great and it’s free. there’s many different languages like german and spanish. while i was still in college in the states i took a german class in addition to practicing sometimes on the app and it extremely helpful. in the app you play matching games, you speak, and translate words. and it always goes over words that you practiced before so you won’t forget. the app reminds you every day to practice so you can advance and keep up your daily streak. the app also has a feature where you can have a “text conversation” with someone (a bot) in the language and it helps with your conversational and recall skills.

2. airbnb

of course, when you’re leaving the country you’re going to need somewhere to stay and my family and i have been using airbnb. this is probably one of the best apps ever. i can stay anywhere i want without the expensive hotel costs. airbnb is probably one of the best apps to get your bang for your buck, but do your research about the areas you’re staying in and be sure to read the reviews!

you can save $25 off your first trip of $75 or more with my mom’s code: khadijahb88

1. google translate

it helps when speaking to natives of the country. soooooo soooo helpful. get it. use it. embody it. that’s all i must say.